100 Peso Chile Gold Coin | 1895 - 1980

100 Pesos, Chile

20.3397 g gross, 900 fine, holding 18.305 g of pure gold, 31 mm across. The reverse gives the value three ways: CIEN PESOS, 100 Ps, and DIEZ CONDORES — ten condores.

Struck at the Santiago mint, mintmark So, in 1926 and then from 1932 to 1980.

Specifications

Obverse and reverse

The obverse shows a laureate head of Liberty facing left, hair braided, with a small star at the breast, REPUBLICA DE CHILE and the date. The portrait follows the work of Louis-Oscar Roty.

The reverse carries the Chilean coat of arms — the plumed shield with a huemul deer and a condor as supporters — and the three statements of value.

A large coin with no restrike programme

Unlike the Austrian, Hungarian and Mexican pieces, no source records an official restriking of this coin with a frozen date. The date on a Chilean 100 Pesos is the year it was made. Mintages vary a great deal by year: 1932 runs to about nine thousand pieces, while 1947 exceeds half a million.

Exactly 900, and why that matters

HMRC’s test for investment gold is a fineness of not less than 900 thousandths. This coin is exactly 900. It clears the threshold, but with nothing to spare — a coin a shade below that line would attract VAT as a collectable rather than being treated as investment gold.

VAT and UK capital gains tax

HMRC treats a coin minted after 1800 as investment gold if it is at least 900 thousandths fine, is or has been legal tender in its country of origin, and normally sells at no more than 180 per cent of the open market value of its gold (VAT Notice 701/21A). The 100 Pesos is 900 fine, was Chilean legal tender and is sold close to the gold price, so it meets all three tests.

Capital gains tax is a separate matter. The UK exemption follows sterling legal tender, so it covers Sovereigns and Britannias but not a Chilean coin. This is a statement of the published rule, not tax advice — your own position depends on your circumstances.

Questions buyers ask

How much gold does it contain? 18.305 g of pure gold, about 0.589 of a troy ounce.

What does ten condores mean? It is the same value expressed in the older Chilean unit. The condor was worth ten pesos.

Are these restrikes? No. No official restrike programme is recorded for this coin.

Which date will I receive? A mixed date as available. Some years are much scarcer than others.

Authenticity checked at GoldInvest24 before dispatch. Other sizes are on the historic gold coins page. Live quotes on the precious metals prices page.